Lakes, legends & lovely landscapes – Reivers Cycle Route

Winding through the historic border territory of England and Scotland, the Reivers Cycle Route takes you on an exhilarating ride through untouched nature and fascinating history.

This epic adventure heads 192 miles (309 km) through rolling fells and crags, hidden lakes, and traditional farmland in one of the wildest areas of Britain.

In this Collection, you will follow the Reivers Cycle Route in seven stages between 21.3 miles (34.4 km) and 39 miles (62.9 km) long. If you want to complete the adventure in fewer days, you can easily combine the stages. However, they cannot easily be shortened as the area is often very remote and poorly connected by public transport.

If you are looking for an alternative coast to coast challenge, this route could be perfect. Starting in the coastal town of Whitehaven on the Irish Sea, you will ride across the north of England to Tyneside on the North Sea. Don’t forget the C2C tradition to dip your wheel in the Irish Sea and the North Sea at the start and finish.

To fully enjoy this wild ride, you need a good level of fitness and the ability to climb up to 2,099 feet (640 m) in one day. Although you don't need to be an expert rider, you may want to reconsider taking on this route with a young family.

Following isolated lanes through spectacular landscapes, the remoteness of the Reivers Cycle Route is also its beauty. Wild places like these are hard to find in the UK today. As such, you should come prepared for any scenario: pack appropriate clothing for all weather conditions, bring a first aid kit, a map, compass, and power bank, and carry enough food for a few days in the saddle. As some of the route follows forest tracks, your bike should be able to handle mud.

Come prepared and you can fully relax in the stunning surroundings. On the way, you will ride along coastal plains, before heading through the Northern Lake District National Park and through desolate hills and evergreen forests to Kielder Waters.

This area was not always the peaceful idyll it is today. During the 15th and 16th centuries, it was teeming with criminals. Robbery, murder, kidnap, and rustling were commonplace, hence the route’s name – reivers. You can learn more about its turbulent past as you explore crumbling castle walls, ancient carvings, and historic bridges en route.

Despite the remoteness of this Collection, each stage finishes at a place offering food and accommodation. Guesthouses, cosy pubs and hotels will welcome you in from the elements with a hot meal.

Cyclists have been enjoying the Reivers Cycle Route since its opening in 1998. Managed by Sustrans, it follows route 10, 7, 71, and 72 of the National Cycle Network. The route is well-maintained, but only the section between Kielder and Tyneside is signed-posted.

You can ride this route in either direction, with east to west having slightly kinder gradients. For the purpose of this Collection, I’ve started in Whitehaven.

Built on the wealth of the shipping and mining industries, Whitehaven is a pretty Georgian town on the west coast. You’ll find plenty of shops, restaurants and places to stay to prepare for your adventure. To get to Whitehaven, you can travel by train from Carlisle or Lancaster.

For train tickets and timetables, visit: thetrainline.com/live/departures/whitehaven